[TRANS] A LETTER FROM A H.O.T. FAN…– POSTED ON 21/11/09

[TRANS] A LETTER FROM A H.O.T. FAN…– POSTED ON 21/11/09

Please read the WHOLE article it is heart whelming and it shows how much TVXQ's fans love them

I am now 24. I used to be a hardcore H.O.T fan
when I was a teenager.
4 years ago at the beginning of my twenties,
my uniform was not the only thing I had to discard as I graduated from
high school.
Then, because of the views of adults, from the existence
of my heart.

I had to discard my favorite idol group ‘H.O.T’.
Nowadays,
many say, ‘Can’t a fan in her twenties like an idol group?’
But four
years ago. Or even before that. Idols were the possession of teenagers.
So
when I became twenty years old, I had to discard my uniform and
‘H.O.T’.

A group that has all the needed star qualities and is
the climax of teenage fandoms…
They bring the unaccustomed words
‘Nation’s idol’ to us by expanding their fanbase throughout the age
groups.



That was the first part of an article
included in the HanGyuhreh Newspaper.
That was a sentence in an
article about TVXQ.

Even four years ago, for a person in his or
her twenties to like idols and buy their albums,
For a person stuck
within the limitations of a ‘working man’, who wore army apparel or a
suit, to buy idols’ albums,
equated to someone buying ‘pornographic
videos’ amongst teenagers…

On one hand, I feel like the world has
gotten better, but on the other hand, I’m also bitter.
If had been
born a little later, ‘H.O.T’ who filled my memories would not have
existed in my teenage life,
but I cannot hide my bitterness.



When they first debuted, they held the
title as a group who had as many antis as fans.
They did indeed have
as many anti fans as that title implied. But out of all those antis, at
least 50% would have become antis, not because of TVXQ,
but because
of ‘Cassiopeia’, aren’t I right?

Female celebrities who had the
slightest contact with TVXQ were attacked to a level that matched
‘terrorism’.
And as ‘TVXQ’ was created to spread the mass culture to
teenagers, there were many low level elementary school fans so
countless
mishaps and events must have occurred.

I think that the peak of
all of it was when they released their second album.

When they
first debuted in 2004, no one could deny the power that they held.
This
monopoly was expected as TVXQ, who were dubbed the revival of idol
groups, debuted when there were no idol groups active.
(I feel that
even if there were other idol groups around at the time, TVXQ would have
still won anyway.)

Rookie of the Year Award Grand Slam. And the
first artiste after Seotaeji to receive the Rookie of the Year Award and
the Main Award.
I remember that antis and the public in general said
harsh things about this.
But I also remember that none of these
harsh words were sensible.

That just showed that TVXQ’s Anti
generation had not opened yet.



And then came their second album in
2005, Rising Sun.

SM says that the fourth album was the best yet,
but I believe that TVXQ’s most memorable album is their second album.
Although
the song’s beat was so new and fresh that could not be understood
without watching the performance,
if the performance was seen as
well, it became their best song.

At the time, it was true that
their live skills were not the best which got them some criticism.
But
isn’t it true that the reason their Anti generation opened was because
they began taking on acting roles and reality shows?

At the time,
actresses such as ‘Kang Eunbi, Han Yaeseul, Oh Seung Yeon’ acted
alongside TVXQ.
And they all received harsh comments from every
single Cassiopeia who was there at the time.

After that, it felt
as though antis, as well as the public excluding Cassiopeia turned their
back on TVXQ…
Because of Cassiopeia.


The second H.O.T, Revival of H.O.T.
No
sentence fared well under my scrutiny.
And the arrogant actions of
Cassiopeia turned me off of them completely.

But there were times
when Cassiopeia look fine (or even pitiful) in my eyes.

Like
when Cassiopeia, as well as the members of TVXQ, helped out at the site
of the unfortunate oil spill site.

Like when the US Beef
Controversy erupted and Cassioepia was the first fanclub to protest and
participate in various internet activities.

Like when they would
collect all their pocket money together and donate it to those in need
under the names of TVXQ members.

Like when they would sacrifice
little things in their lives to buy one or two albums to keep TVXQ at
the top.

Like when they created ‘DongBang Day’ and bought albums
and online music.

Like when they all voted for TVXQ.

Like
when they would go to recordings of shows, even when they had to wait in
line all night and be treated like dirt, so that they could support
TVXQ.

Like when they sent food to the staff of ‘Infinite
Challenge’ during their concert because TVXQ liked the show.

There
are more things, but I do not know of them as I am not a Cassiopeia.

But
I can tell you two things for sure.

That the fan is who makes
the singer’s image, and TVXQ’s well-mannered, kind image was shaped, not
only by TVXQ,
but by Cassiopeia as well.

And that Cassiopeias
give a sacrificial love ten times, no, a hundred times bigger than the
love given by any other fanclub.

I see the old club H.O.T in
Cassiopeia.
But I also see that Cassiopeia is more sacrificial and
devoted than we ever were.

I feel that Cassiopeia loves TVXQ
more
than TVXQ thinks of Cassiopeia.

One day, I came across something
a Cassiopeia had written. It said,

‘What I fear most is TVXQ’s
tears. But what I like most is TVXQ’s tears.’

She said that the
tears TVXQ shed from the 2004 rotation rumors were the scariest things
she had ever seen.
She vowed to work harder as a Cassiopeia so that
they would never shed tears like that.

She also said that the
tears they shed when they saw Cassiopeia after receiving an award were
the most beautiful things she had ever seen.



‘Gives their all.’

I think those
words describe Cassiopeia well.

I heard that it has been five
years since TVXQ debuted. I also heard that TVXQ spent more than 50% of
those five years abroad.
2 years and 6 months out of 5 years.
Cassiopeia, who probably spent even less than that amount of time with
TVXQ,
must miss them so.

I heard that only around 100 days
were allotted for the fourth album activities.
That was the result of
2 years of waiting.

Cassiopeia matured as they waited for TVXQ,
and
gave ‘their all’ to their singer more than any other fanclub had done.

I
believe that no other fanclub could do what TVXQ’s fans, Cassiopeia do.

Personally,
what surprised me most were the glow stick events at large scale
concerts.
I believe that the members were more moved by this event as
it was done in the presence of other fandoms.

And then an album
that sold over 500,000 copies was released after five years from their
debut.

Many idol groups emerged while TVXQ was absent.

The
main groups would be ‘Big Bang’, ‘Super Junior’ and ‘SS501?.

Their
album sales, especially the album sales of Big Bang, the group
considered TVXQ’s rival,
are high for an idol group.
Since they
are second when it comes to album sales right under TVXQ.
However,
their album sales barely scrape 200,000 copies.

One columnist
said this.

“The creation and beginning of idol groups was H.O.T;
no one can deny that fact.
However, the end, the climax of idols is
TVXQ.”

One music critic said this.

“An idol group who
surpassed H.O.T, the first generation idol, debuted and the idol market
evolved into the second generation idol market.
That idol group was
TVXQ.

However, there has yet to come a third generation idol
market.
Unless an idol group that can surpass TVXQ debuts, the third
generation idol market will never come for eternity.”

TVXQ is
credited for making such a TVXQ,
but Cassiopeia should be recognized
for their sacrificial love.

They give their all and are left with
only memories of longing.

However, Cassiopeias do not fear this.

I,
at 24, envy their courage, and wish I could be like the confident
Cassiopeias I see.

Even if the day of parting comes, even if a
temporary day of separation comes,
I hope they do not do anything
they will regret ‘because they are Cassiopeia.’

‘Because they are
Cassiopeia…”

-2009. H.O.T Fan-

Source:
[Daum Television]
Translation credits: jeeelim5@tohosomnia.net
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